Reset a MySQL root password
Last updated on: 2020-09-04
Authored by: Rackspace Support
The MySQL® root password allows the root user to have full access to the MySQL database. You must have (Linux®) root or (Windows®) Administrator access to the Cloud Server to reset the MySQL root password.
Note: The Cloud Server (Linux) root or (Windows) Administrator account password is not the same as the MySQL password. The Cloud Server password allows access to the server. The MySQL root password allows access only to the MySQL database.
Use the following steps to reset a MySQL root password by using the command line interface.
Stop the MySQL service
(Ubuntu operating system and Debian) Run the following command:
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop
(CentOS, Fedora, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux) Run the following command:
sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld stop
Start MySQL without a password
Run the following command. The ampersand (&) at the end of the command is required.
sudo mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &
Connect to MySQL
Run the following command:
mysql -uroot
Set a new MySQL root password
Run the following command:
use mysql;
update user set authentication_string=PASSWORD("mynewpassword") where User='root';
flush privileges;
quit
Stop and start the MySQL service
(Ubuntu operating system and Debian) Run the following commands:
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql stop
...
sudo /etc/init.d/mysql start
(CentOS, Fedora, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux) Run the following commands:
sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld stop
...
sudo /etc/init.d/mysqld start
Log in to the database
Test the new password by logging in to the database.
mysql -u root -p
Enter your new password when prompted.